Sergeant Air-Gunner, RAF
Born: January 7th 1924
Died: October 15th 1943
Age at Death: 19
Killed in action, October 15th 1943
Mother - Mrs. B. Baillie
Address - P.O. Box 135 Nakuru, Kenya and Somerset Hotel, Oriental Place, Brighton
William, known as Bill, the son of Rex Baillie and his wife Marguerite, was born into a white colonial family in Kenya on 7 January 1924.
On turning 18 he joined the RAF, and was assigned to 223 Squadron, flying bombers as an air gunner. He was stationed first in the Middle East and then in Italy, where his Martin Baltimore was hit by anti-aircraft fire, killing him and a fellow crew member; two others survived to become prisoners of war. In a long and moving letter to Walter Hett, his mother said:
It has been a terrible shock to us. As you know he was my only child…He had so much to come back to and everybody loved him here as he was always so cheery and loved life so. How I pray this ghastly war will end this year.
Near the close of the letter she concluded:
I think the people in England have been simply magnificent, but they must be very war weary. How wonderful old Churchill is.